Pakistan, China to strengthen parliamentary ties

By Masood Sattar Khan in Beijing

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Member National Assembly (MNA) Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, alongwith the 15-member delegation of young parliamentarians, was warmly welcomed by Vice Minister of International Department of Communist Party of China (CPC), Chen Fengxiang, in Beijing.

Welcoming the delegation at the CPC headquarters, Chen Fengxiang stressed the need for long-term regular and institutionalized party relations between the two countries. Both sides agreed to further strengthen and deepen party to party relations and exchanges at the party level. It was also discussed how both parties can benefit from each other’s experiences for improving the capacity of political parties.

The visit is a consequence of the MoU signed between the two countries during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s official visit to China in July last year. The Pakistan Muslim League (N) delegation is being led by Party Secretary General, Zafar Iqbal Jhagra also visited China in September last year. The CPC delegation also carried out reciprocal visit to Pakistan in Febraury this year.

Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, at a luncheon hosted by Ambassador Masood Khalid at the Pakistan House in Beijing, said that the visit provided an opportunity to both sides to discuss further strengthening of party relations between the two countries and share experience about the formation and structure of political parties in the two countries.

Highlighting the time tested, all weather friendship he said that this was a very special trip to a China with which we have cooperation and convergence in all areas. He also visited the metro orange line in Beijing to experience and observe the Beijing transportation system.

Pakistan’s parliamentarian delegation of ruling political party, the PML arrived in China on April 21 and will depart on April 29.

The delegation activities started from Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan province where the delegation visited the grass roots organization of CPC ‘CPC Primary Unit.’ They also visited the Pakistan study center at the Sichuan University and held in depth discussion on formation, structure and capacity building of political parties in each other’s countries.

The delegation comprised Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, Mohammad Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, Marvi Memon, Jam Kamal Khan, Dr Darshan, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Mohsin Shah Nawaz Ranjha, Muhammad Tallal Chaudhry, Mariyum Aurangzeb, Saud Majeed, Mohammad Khurram Gulfam, Qazi Adnan Fareed. 

Red Army veteran praises Nawaz visit; emphasizes to emulate President Xi welfare policies

By Masood Sattar Khan in Beijing

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A veteran of Red Army while praising Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif for his address and participation in the Boao Forum for Asia in China said that Pakistan need to emulate the policies of present leadership of China led by President Xi Jingping to address the economic woes.

“I was very delighted to see on television your prime minister addressing the Boao Forum and meeting Premier Li Keqiang,” Zhong Ming remarked in an exclusive interview.

Zhong, who will turn 100-year in coming August, said that “together we (Pakistan-China) can build a harmonious society. The cooperation between the two countries will have win-win situation for both the people, he added.

The veteran Red Army solder said that if welfare polices of China is emulated by the present government in Pakistan, it can also help improve the lot of the common people.

Zhong,on the directions of Chairman Mao Zedong served in various capacity in Red army and also assigned responsibilities in strategic important Shanxi province.

Highlighting the grass-root level policies of the Chinese government particularly for the down trodden masses lived in surrounding counties and villages of Ganzhou in below poverty line, he said that now prosperity can be seen on their face. It was possible because of upward trajectory of the socio-economic condition of the villagers, he noted.

Zhong, on the directions of Chairman Mao Zedong served in various capacities in Red army and also assigned tasks in strategic important Shanxi province.

Since 2012, when President Xi was holding the charge as Country’s Vice-President he had approved a number of welfare projects on the recommendations of the local party head Mr. He Shunping of Xingguo county in Ganzhou, Jiangxi province.

Now people even at the county level have uninterrupted electricity, well equipped schools, clinics, internet and even houses for old and retired service people, a senior local government   official said .

He pointed out that under a policy, farmers were provided new homes for which major chunk of money was arranged by the banks on the instructions of the government on very nominal interest rate.

 “We are very pleased and proud in living in new homes, as in old homes, life was miserable especially during monsoon season when we were constrained to live in mud-home where water used to creep from roof and walls,” Wu Guanghuang, a 78-year old farmer of Xinfeng county in Ganzhou, said who had fortunately survived from the massive flooding that inundated his muddy house built within his field of tobacco crop.       

President Mamnoon Hussain addresses SSUET’s 17th Convocation

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

President Mamnoon Hussain advised the graduating students of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) that while they were now about to enter their practical life, they will have to commit and  prepare themselves to serve the country and the nation.

He was addressing the SSUET graduates at the university’s 17th convocation held at the Karachi Expo Centre on April 10 in which around 1300 students from the disciplines of Computer, Electronics, Civil, Telecommunication and Bio-Medical Engineering and Computer Science besides those having completed their Masters were awarded degrees.

On the occasion, the President also presented Gold, Silver and Bronze medals to graduates who bagged first, second and third positions in their respective fields of study.

Addressing both in English and Urdu, President Mamnoon Hussain said that convocations serve as a milestone in the life of a student and extended congratulations to the passing out graduates while they were entering a new era of life. Pointing that there was a time when focus used to be laid both on education and grooming but today there was more focus on education and not as much on grooming as required.

He described faculty as an essential part of an educational institution with teachers being the most important factor for equipping their pupils with knowledge and asserted that only talented and merited teachers should be employed who could dispense better education.

The President pointed out that once a teacher completes his education, he hardly find any opportunity  for  further training to keep pace with ever-changing knowledge and, therefore, there is need for those associated with the field of education, to establish such training-boosting institutions for teachers.

He observed that the SSUET, which has been named after great educationist and reformer, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, is a symbol of higher education. Sir Syed, he stated, established an institution in the sub-continent, the blessings of which will continue till last .

The President told the students that how when they are entering a practical life, this country should deserve to have their priority and they should prepare themselves to root out whatever deficiencies being faced today.

President Mamnoon Hussain told the graduating students that this country was achieved after colossal sacrifices and a great blessing of Allah.

“Value this country and make all out efforts for its progress and prosperity and play their due role to take it to new heights among world nations”.

He called upon them to respect their parents and teachers who led them to the accomplishment of their educational mission and said that this would prove beneficial to them not only here but also in the world hereafter.

The President hoped that they would take eulogized steps for the cause of the country, the province and the city and prayed that may Allah lead them to success in their practical life.

At the outset of his address, the President congratulated the passing out engineers and described the award of degrees from this prestigious institution an honor for them.

He described SSUET a legacy of the mission of great reformer and educationist Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and said that the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA) deserve every appreciation for establishing this university.

“It is a matter of satisfaction that since its inception, the SSUET had distinguished itself as a prestigious institution of the country dedicated to the promotion of science and technology as was emphasized by Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in his message on November 27, 1947,” he recognized.

The establishment of this university, he noted, was not a small achievement but it was due  to sheer hard work and dedicated efforts . He was appreciative of the achievements made by SSUET in a short period.

He advised the graduates that now when they are entering a practical life, they will face challenging tasks and they will have to stand up to the same with fierce determination as there will be no short cut to achieve success in their practical life.

On its part, the President said, the Government of Pakistan is committed to the cause of education, particularly the science and technology which is main key progress and prosperity.

Besides public sector, the government is also engaging the private sector to achieve the cherished objectives and this sector is responding positively towards the cause of nation building.

Earlier in his welcome address, Chancellor SSUET, Engr Mohammed Adil Usman remarked that the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology was established with a view to adorning the youth with the most modern knowledge and made them available the best choices for study in the field of latest technology.

The University, he said, was alive to the staggering speed at which the technology is growing and also to the multiple dimensions the technology is encompassing for its growth.

"To keep pace with the developments we must undertake the cultivating, nurturing and mentoring of young minds, employing the best of the available human and material resources", he stated.

 Congratulating the graduates receiving degrees, Chancellor Adil Usman pointed out that since its inception, the University has been performing the sacred duty of developing the youth - capable to meet the challenges of the modern world.

It was due to this fact that engineer from SSUET occupy respectable positions in the national and multinational organizations in Pakistan and abroad.

He referred to relevance with the main stream of modern technical education and described it essential for the University. He said it will be possible with continuous improving of our curricula and adding new disciplines.

He said in 2014 new subjects of study like Software Engineering, Bioinformatics and Architecture have been added and the university will go further in the subsequent years too.

Engr Adil Usman said the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys’ Association of Pakistan (AMUOBA), the sponsors of the SSUET, can look back with satisfaction that their efforts have really been crowned with success.

The graduates from the SSUET have earned good name for the University as well as for the country. They are serving honorably in the countries, which are touching the zenith of progress in science and technology.

The University, he pointed out, stands for humanism, tolerance, progress, adventure of ideas, the search of truth and for the new breakthroughs in technology. 

"We keep promotion of human values as the keynote of schemes of our curricula and teach them importance of human values under the caption ‘Aligarh Movement.’

The human values were so central to Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s intellectual journey and educational agenda and we are proud to claim our self as custodian of his legacy, he stated.

Addressing the young graduates, he told them to bear in mind that we are living in the times where knowledge is the ultimate power. The road ahead may be long and full of perils and obstacles for them, but the journey promises to be exciting, provided the honesty of the purpose is the guiding force.

Presenting his annual report on the occasion, Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr Jawaid H. Rizvi, recalled that the SSUET was established by the AMOUBA in 1994. It was an outstanding project accomplished in the domain of education and a manifestation of AMUOBA's patriotism and concern for nation building.

Today, he said, the enrollment which started with 222 students in 1994 has already crossed 6,500 and todate over 10,000 graduates produced since 1998.

He recalled that in the first convocation in 1998, 197 students were awarded BS degrees and today over 1300 students are to receive their Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Six disciplines.

The Vice-Chancellor pointed out that knowledge is expanding at tremendous pace and new areas of study in Engineering and related fields are emerging. This has   given rise to the need for new disciplines in the Universities. The introduction of these disciplines is essential to keep pace with main stream of knowledge. 

Sir Syed University of Engineering & technology, he said,  is fully alive to this scenario and has added three new disciplines of Software Engineering, Bioinformatics and Architecture this year.

He said the University presently has 09 disciplines in its BS Programme, while the Master Programme is in 06 disciplines. The Ph.D. Programme is offered in Computer and Electronic Engineering disciplines for faculty members only.

He said the university takes pride in the quality of its laboratories which meet international standards and it is ensured that our students have proficiency in practical work. Its eight labs have the best available equipment. 

He pointed out that SSUET was the first in Pakistan to introduce Bio-medical Engineering in 1996 benefitting health care services in Pakistan.

He gave a detail outline of the departments of Civil, Electronics, Telecom and Computer Engineering.

He informed that the university library has over 90,000 books and its distinction role was of a book bank for students, teachers and researchers.

Dr Jawaid said the University policy is that capable students are not deprived of education due to weak financial position.  The University schemes of Scholarship and Financial Assistance provide help to the deserving students, who have financial problems and for this purpose Rs.56.05 million allocated in the budget.

The Vice-Chancellor said the University has a very active Sports Department, which organizes teams for participation in Sports competitions. The Cricket team of University has been showing prominence at national and international levels and has the honor to give some prominent players to the national hockey team.

He said the university has a separate forum, Brig (R) Qamar-us-Slam Khan, Literary Art and Culture Forum which manages the cultural activities in the University and prepares students to take part in different competitions of debates, Qirat and Declamation. Our students have won first prizes in many competitions held at national and local levels.

Concluding, he said, the Convocation is the day of the graduates receiving degrees and gold medals which was moment of happiness and pride for their parents and guardians too.

On the occasion Chancellor Adil Usman presented the SSUET's souvenir to the President. The convocation was largely attended by members of SSUET Board of Governors, prominent members of Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association, dignitaries, members of the faculty and parents of passing out graduates.   

Pakistan Railways receive first consignment of locomotives from China

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

Pakistan News & Features Services

The Pakistan Railways have confirmed having received first consignment of five locomotives out of 58 ordered with China.

The five locomotives, each of 3000 horse power, were unloaded at the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) on April 7.

These would be inducted into the system after initial tests and used for operation of freight trains, Divisional Railways officials informed PNFS on the occasion.

Presently the Pakistan Railways has been operating, on an average, three to four freight trains on daily basis and their frequency is likely to increase with the induction of the new locomotives.

The Karachi Railways Division operated 100 freight trains during the month of March, after a halt of freight operation for three years when it came to stand still due to non-availability of locomotives, resulting in a big revenue loss to the organization.

Each freight train is today generating revenue of 2.5 to 3 million rupees and according to sources the Karachi Railways Division earned revenue of Rs 300 million during March 2014.

“We have the demand and the capacity to carry freight with availability of wagons and arrival of new locomotives and their induction into the system will certainly provide a boost to the freight operation resulting in an increase in the frequency of freight trains, the Railway sources stated.

Glowing tributes paid to Z A Nizami on death anniversary

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Glowing tributes were paid to Engr Z A Nizami, who was referred to as Baba-e-Karachi and Sir Syed Saani, at a big gathering organized by the Nizami family at KDA Officer’s Club, Karachi, to observe his first death anniversary.

Administrator KMC
Rauf Akhtar Farooqi

The speakers, on the occasion, who included Administrator, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), Rauf Akhtar Farooqi, former Sindh Governor, Lt Gen (Rtd) Moinuddin Haider, former Ministers Haji Hanif Tayyab, Dost Mohammed Faizi and Wasim Akhtar, Chairman Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) Abdul Qadir Shah, AMUOBA members Ali Zafar Afridi and Arif Raza, former Director KDA, Rizwan Siddiqi, fiery Muslim Leaguer Azad Bin Hyder and finally Farrukh NIzami, recalled the services and the accomplishments of the late Engr Nizami in the field of education and development of Karachi. 

An emotional Dost Mohammed Faizi recalled that Engr Nizami had paid the debt he owed to Sir Syed Ahmad Khan by establishing the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) in Karachi and now we owe a debt to pay by establishing the Z A Nizami University in his memory.

Dost Mohammad Faizi

His call in this regard was wholeheartedly supported by Haji Hanif Tayyab who offered his services and available resources in this regard saying that Engr Nizami had been the Hatim Tai of his era as well as Baba-e-Taaleem and Sir Syed Saani. 

In his discourse the KMC Administrator, Rauf Akhtar Farooqi, described Engr Nizami a complete personality and an institution in his right and said what he did for this ever sprawling city in his life time will remain unmatched so much so he launched 45 development schemes and no one could bring till to date the 46th scheme. 

He pointed out that those 45 schemes were not mere development schemes but establishment of 45 small towns with provision of all basic infrastructure facilities, a challenging task which no one else could do. He said that the younger generation of engineers must know about his achievements so that they could follow his footsteps. 

Rauf Farooqi said that Engr Nizami's vision can be judged from the fact that as Director General for eight years he steered Karachi to its highest peak besides introducing new departments like Building Control Authority, Traffic Engineering Bureau, Mass Transit, water wing which later turned into Water Board besides streamlining the Master Plan department on most modern lines and introduced Karachi's first Master Plan. 

Moinuddin Haider

Former Governor of Sindh and a member of SSUET’s Board of Governors, Gen Moinuddin Haider, considered Engr Nizami a torch-bearer of the eastern traditions who set very high standards for himself and his team. 

He referred to establishment of the SSUET and observed that since its inception over 15,000 engineers have passed out from here and serving in various parts of the world. He said that the town planning of Karachi was an unmatched example of his God-gifted vision. He said he was a true educationist and his memories will always remain alive. 

A former Provincial Minister, Karachi will be referred to and as an educationist when SSUET comes to limelight. 

Waseem Akhtar

Waseem Akhtar, described Engr Nizami as a towering personality and a multi-faceted figure who, he said, will be remembered whenever the development of

He said that Engr Nizami was the one who contributed the most to the cause of promotion of education and the university established by him was fulfilling his mission of producing high-quality engineers. 

 Chairman PEC, Syed Abdul Qadir Shah, recalled his association with Engr Nizami, stating that he found him having the cause of SSUET students very dear to his heart as if they were his own children.

“He was a true legend and Karachi of today is because of his development vision. He was an all-round engineer, who stood taller than anyone else in the country,” Qadir Shah complimented.

Haji Hanif Tayyab

Noted Aligarhian, Ali Zafar Qadri, talked about his and other members of the AMUOBA association with Engr Nizami and said that besides being a high quality planner, developer and educationist, he was above all a high quality human being having a good sense of humour. 

Arif Raza, another Aligarhian recalled that Engr Nizami’s services for the AMUOBA and said it was a triangle of Engr Z A Nizami, Engr Zakir Ali Khan and Brig Qamarussalam, whose dynamism led to establishment of the SSUET.

Dost Mohammed Faizi appreciated the family members of Engr Nizami for maintaining the noble traditions of their illustrious father. 

He said the nations, who forget their benefactors, go into oblivion and the best way to keep the memory of Engr Nizami alive was to establish a university in his name like the Sir Syed University he established after the name of great educationist Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. 

He said that old students of the SSUET can play a significant role in this regard. Haji Hanif Tayyab, a former Federal Minister, recalled the achievements of Engr Nizami, particularly the development of a garden within the precinct of Quaid-e-Azam mausoleum. 

He shared that Engr Nizami truly followed the Hadith of Prophet Hazrat Mohammed (Peace be Upon Him) that when cities become big and congested, small cities be developed nearby and he developed 45 such small towns around Karachi. 

Rizwan Siddiqi pointed out that the life of Engr Nizami could be encompassed by taking Aligarh, KDA and Sir Syed University into account. 

On the occasion Azad Bin Hyder presented his 1200-page book titled “From Sir Syed to Quaid-e-Azam” to the Nizami family and said it was Engr Nizami who inspired him to write the historic book. 

In his remarks on the occasion, Farrukh Nizami, son of Engr Z.A Nizami, gave an outline of the future plans for their illustrious father which included the establishment of Z A Nizami Educational Society, issuance of a postal stamp, compilation of book containing clippings and photographs relating to Engr Nizami besides publishing the book titled “Architecture in Islam” which their father wrote in his life time and was eagre for its launch in Saudi Arabia. 

He called for naming a city road after the name of Engr Z A Nizami and hoped that if he had done something valuable, the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA), too, should play its role in keeping the memories of Engr Nizami alive, who remained its President for so long and served as first Chancellor of SSUET which today enjoys a big name in the world. The proceedings, which were largely attended by people belonging to various walks of life, concluded with singing of “Tarana Aligarh”.